Table 3.
Synthesis of the research results on the key candidates for social tipping elements selected by the experts and their associated social tipping interventions
| Social tipping element | Social tipping intervention | Control parameter | Key actors | GHG emission reduction potential | Dominant social structure level | Estimated time needed to trigger tipping |
| STE1: Energy production and storage | STI1.1: Subsidy programs | The relative price of fossil-fuel–free energy | Governments, energy ministries, big energy producers (68) | Up to 21% globally in 1 y (68) | National policy (68) | 10 to 20 y (including the policy-formative phase) (161) |
| STI1.2: Decentralized energy production | Citizens, communities (73), local governments (162), policy makers (163), energy planners (164) | Up to 100% in power supply (61) | Community/town governance (165) | Less than 10 y (81) | ||
| STE2: Human settlements | STI2.2: Carbon-neutral cities | The demand for fossil-fuel–free technology | City administration, citizens, and citizen groups (166) | Reduction by 32% in 14 y (91) | Urban governance (91) | Approximately 10 y (91). |
| STE3: Financial market | STI3.1: Divestment movement | Profitability of fossil fuel exploitation | Financial investors (96) | 26% emissions tied to investments of a large Canadian university (167) | Market exchange, enterprise (98) | Very rapid, could occur within hours (142) |
| STE4: Norms and values system | STI4.1: Recognition of the immoral character of fossil fuels | The perception of fossil fuels as immoral | Peer groups, environmental organizations, youth, opinion leaders (168–170) | Unprecedented | Informal institutions, enforcement through peer groups (171) | 30 to 40 y (172) |
| STE5: Education system | STI5.1: Climate education and engagement | Climate change and impacts awareness | Teachers, climate educators (117), youth (113) | Up to 30% reduction in 2 y in the emissions of the Italian households included in the study (124) | National policy (173) | 10 to 20 y (173) |
| STE6: Information feedback | STI6.1: Emission information disclosure | The number of products and services disclosing their carbon emissions | The business and producers; governments for setting disclosure guidelines and regulations (174) | Up to 10% reduction of emissions in UK households' grocery consumption in a year (175) | Market, exchange (176); enterprise (177) | A few years (178) |